Doreen Lioy: The Unsettling Story of Richard Ramirez's Wife and Their Twisted Romance
Doreen Lioy wasn’t just any woman — she was the woman who fell for the devil incarnate. Captivated by the mugshot of Richard Ramirez — the sadistic killer who terrorized Los Angeles in the mid-1980s — Lioy’s fascination turned into a twisted love story. Their tale is one of obsession, denial, and a macabre bond that still leaves people shaking their heads.
Peacock’s new docuseries, Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes, doesn’t just dive into the heinous crimes of the serial killer but also unravels the baffling romance between him and Lioy, a former magazine editor. Here’s a closer look at the woman who said “I do” to the man convicted of 13 murders and countless other atrocities.
Who Was Doreen Lioy?
Doreen Lioy wasn’t your average California girl. By the time Ramirez was arrested in 1985, Lioy had already fallen for his dark allure, reportedly sending him at least 75 love letters during his time in prison. While the world recoiled in horror at his crimes, Lioy claimed she saw something “vulnerable” in his eyes — a spark that ignited her undying devotion.
Lioy’s bizarre fascination with Ramirez wasn’t just romantic; it bordered on delusional. She famously told CNN she believed Ramirez was innocent, dismissing the mountain of evidence against him by saying, “In my opinion, there was far more evidence to convict O.J. Simpson.”
A Match Made in Hell
Ramirez and Lioy’s 11-year courtship culminated in an unsettling prison wedding on October 3, 1996. Wearing a white bridal gown, Lioy stood by her man as he rejected a gold wedding band in favor of platinum, declaring, “Satanists don’t wear gold.”
Unsurprisingly, none of Lioy’s family attended the ceremony. Her estranged twin sister once described Lioy’s obsession as incomprehensible, while Lioy herself seemed unfazed by the world’s judgment, quipping, “Hometown girl makes bad.”
No Fairy-Tale Ending
Their marriage was devoid of conjugal visits — a bitter pill for Lioy, who once admitted to packing breath mints for her visits to “kiss with confidence.” Despite this, she remained devoted to Ramirez, visiting him frequently and maintaining her belief in his innocence.
But even dark love stories must end. Ramirez died of cancer in 2013, and Lioy has since disappeared from the public eye. Still, her disturbing devotion to the “Night Stalker” serves as a chilling reminder of love’s power to blind — even in the face of pure evil.
Brace yourself for Peacock’s Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes on December 10, 2024, as the world revisits the monstrous crimes and the baffling bond of a couple that defies comprehension.